Towards a better understanding of bitumen chemistry, microstructure, and rheology

dc.contributor.advisorBhasin, Amit
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBaumgardner, Gaylon
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSaleh, Navid
dc.contributor.committeeMemberJuenger, Maria
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFaxina, Adalberto
dc.creatorSakib, Nazmus
dc.creator.orcid0000-0002-2669-3680
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-23T21:57:10Z
dc.date.available2021-03-23T21:57:10Z
dc.date.created2018-12
dc.date.issued2018-11-27
dc.date.submittedDecember 2018
dc.date.updated2021-03-23T21:57:11Z
dc.description.abstractBitumen is the residua of fractional distillation of crude oil. It generally consists of complex and a diverse variety of organic molecules and other heteroatoms. The nature and interactions between these molecules dictate the engineering properties of the bitumen. One of the attributes used to classify and examine these diverse constituent molecules is based on their relative polarities. Typically a bitumen is classified into four polarity based fractions, namely saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes (SARA) using physical separation by precipitation and chromatography. Such separations require specialized equipment and expertise. In this study, two new fast and repeatable techniques of chromatography using disposable and inexpensive parts were developed. One of these methods was then used to fractionate a large set of bitumens in order to compare the constitution of the bitumens based on these fractions to their rheological, mechanical, and microstructural properties. Results show that parameters based on bitumen stiffness and tensile strength correlate well with these fractions. Similar relationship with more time dependent parameters was not conclusive. Microscopic observation of surface microstructures indicates similarity among bitumens from the same producer. There was also a good correlation between SARA parameters and surface microstructure for bitumens from the same producer. However, this relationship was unique for each producer and not global suggesting that other factors related to the crude source need to be considered as well
dc.description.departmentCivil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2152/85077
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/12047
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectBitumen
dc.subjectSARA
dc.subjectSPE
dc.subjectTLC
dc.subjectChemistry
dc.subjectMicrostructure
dc.subjectFingerprinting
dc.subjectCorrelation
dc.titleTowards a better understanding of bitumen chemistry, microstructure, and rheology
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
thesis.degree.departmentCivil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorThe University of Texas at Austin
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

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